The minister questioned Congress MLA Shanimol Usman, how she could sit calmly next to Shaji after hearing such a statement
Thiruvananthpuram: A statement on Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee by an opposition MLA in the context of the NPR and a veiled reference to her counterpart in the state Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan triggered a gender debate in the state Assembly on Thursday.
When IUML member KM Shaji, moved an adjournment motion asking for the halt on census activities until concerns related to the National Population Register (NPR) were cleared, he made a reference to Banerjee
“Just look at West Bengal a woman is ruling that state but she has shown enough spine and decided not to attend the meeting called by the Central government on NPR,” Shaji said. This led to a wave of agitation from the treasury benches led by Health minister KK Shailaja and Agriculture minister V S Sunil Kumar, who frankly opposed to the reference to a woman heading the government there.
Angry minister Shailaja, who is normally known to keep her cool, asked the IUML member “Even if a woman is leading the government there, what is the problem? So are you saying that a woman cannot lead properly?” Shailaja questioned.
The minister questioned Congress MLA Shanimol Usman, how she could sit calmly next to Shaji after hearing such a statement.
As the agitation intensified, Shaji expressed regret and withdrew the statement. “I withdraw my remarks. But what I meant was that she was a strong woman,” he said.
Shaji was referring to the decision of the West Bengal CM not to attend the meeting of the states called by the Union government to discuss the implementation of NPR.
Vijayan said though the state had attended the meeting, its representative had informed the central government that it will not implement the NPR. Kerala had decided not to implement the NPR days after the West Bengal government stayed all activities relating to the preparation and updating of the NPR in the eastern state.
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